Treason Act 1553 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Acte repealing certayne Treasons Felonies and Premunire. |
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| Citation | 1 Mar. Sess. 1. c. 1 |
| Territorial extent | |
| Dates | |
| Repealed | 1967 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repeals/revokes | Treason Act 1535 |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 Criminal Law Act 1967 |
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Status: Repealed
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Treason Act 1553 was a special law made by the Parliament of England. The Parliament was like the government's law-making group back in the 1500s. This law was very important because it changed how "treason" was defined. Treason meant being disloyal to the king or queen.
Contents
What Was the Treason Act 1553?
This law got rid of many older rules about treason that had been created since the year 1351. It kept only the original Treason Act 1351 in place. The Act also removed many "felonies." Felonies were other very serious crimes that had been made into laws since King Henry VIII started his rule.
Why Was This Act Important?
When a new ruler came to the throne, they often wanted to change old laws. This Act was passed when Queen Mary I became queen. It helped to simplify the laws about serious crimes, especially those against the monarch. It meant that some actions that were once considered treason or a felony were no longer seen that way.
How Did the Act End?
Parts of the Treason Act 1553 were removed over time.
- A small part of the Act was officially cancelled on July 28, 1863. This was done by another law called the Statute Law Revision Act 1863.
- The rest of the Treason Act 1553 was completely removed in 1967. This happened because of the Criminal Law Act 1967. So, this old law is no longer in effect today.
Other Treason Laws from 1553
| Treason Act 1553 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Citation | 1 Mar. Sess. 2. c. 6 |
It's interesting to know that another law about treason was also passed in 1553. This second law made it high treason to make fake foreign coins. It also made it treason to forge (make fake copies of) the Queen's special seals or her signature. This law was later replaced by the Forgery Act 1830. The crime of forging continued to be a serious offense until 1981.
See also
- High treason in the United Kingdom
- Treason Act
